“Dax?”
“Don’t you ever do that to us again, Jules.”
“I…”
“Do you have any idea how much trouble you could have been in? Do you know what they do to women like you?” Aiden yells, storming across the lot. “You think a beating is the worst a man is capable of, but these aren’t men, they’re monsters, Jules.”
Beating…Fuck! Mum!
I tug free of Dax and dart for the Tower. I’m hammering on the elevator call button and cursing how slow the car descends by the time Dax and Aiden catch up.
“Mum’s upstairs with the twins. I need to get them out,” I explain when neither of them says anything.
“Why the hell did she go back?” Dax barks.
My answer is a clueless shake of my head. The doors spring open and I throw myself inside, Dax and Aiden pushing in behind me. I rattle the button for our floor.
“Hurry up,come on!”
“Wait! Jules! Wait!” Carlo sprints through the entry with Casey in his arms, her little hands reaching around his neck are holding on tight. He shoves himself sideways through the closing doors as the elevator judders and groans beginning its climb.
“Explain,” Dax commands.
“I got a call from TJ. He said Dad was hurting Mum and that I needed to come,” I rush out, paraphrasing the call.
“And you just ran out of the hospital without telling us?” Aiden accuses.
“It’s not your issue. It’s my responsibility...” Aiden raises his admonishing eyebrow and Dax shoots a‘really’glance before flicking a glance at Carlo. “…and maybe Carlo’s too,” I concede.
“You called him and not us?” Dax is upset. He forgets that I’ve known Carlo for close to four years now. I’ve known Dax and Aiden for three days. Not only do I trust Carlo, but I know for sure he has a vested interest in getting Mum out safely.
“TJ mentioned Daddy Carlo.” I shoot a withering look at thehulk of muscle and tattoos. He better realise we’ll be discussing that as soon as this mess is over. “Figured he might be part of the reason she’s getting kicked to shit, so he deserves to help.”
My verbal punch strikes as intended. Carlo pulls back and questions me defensively. “You sure he’s hurting her?”
“I heard a thump…pretty sure that was her hitting the floor,” I admit.
“I’m going to fucking kill him. Here, take Casey.”
The shift in Carlo is immediate. He holds Casey out in mid-air. She makes grabby hand gestures for me to take her and as much as I want her safe in my arms, I know that I need to see to the boys first.
“No. I’m going in first. We don’t know how bad it’ll get if he sees one of you. He likes to hit us with things; belts, brooms, hangers, chairs…food.” I snort derisively, thinking of earlier…or yesterday, I suppose. “If he’s got something in his hands, he’ll likely use it against her before you’ll get to him. I wouldn’t put it past him to make the hit count, damage her permanently, and make it worth getting caught.” He always used to hit harder if one of us interfered in a beating. We learned to stay out of it for the sake of getting it over with; help came later when we picked up the pieces.
“You’re hoping he refocuses on you?” Dax asks. He’s already figured it out, but he’s making sure I have a plan.
“Yes, and he will if I remind him my friend rearranged his face because I asked him to…” I nod toward Aiden. He’s not happy, but I see him slipping into business mode. He rolls up his sleeves and his features drain of expression or tells. I envy his focus.
“I’m coming with you,” Carlo grunts.
I nod, accepting this. It’s what I hoped he’d say. “Okay but give me a minute. When he’s clear of Mum, you can do whatever you like.”
“Fine.” Carlo nods, agreeing to my conditions.
“I’m coming too,” Dax insists.
“No…he’s…he’s not a tolerant man,” I warn.
“I can see that much, Jules.”
